Over the past two decades, a growing body of scientific evidence suggests that deforestation, by triggering a complex cascade of events, creates the conditions for a range of deadly pathogens—such as Nipah and Lassa viruses, and the parasites that cause malaria and Lyme disease—to spread to people.
Forests use more water than shorter types of vegetation because of higher evaporation; they also have lower surface runoff, groundwater recharge and water yield.
1 ha of forest per day releases about 47 000 liters of water in the form of steam during the transpiration process affecting the improvement of the climate up to 60 km.
